-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A potential salmonella outbreak has prompted a multi-state recall of sprouts , an Idaho food company announced Friday .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made a formal recall request Monday , urging on its website that people not eat alfalfa or spicy sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts . The federal agency noted that the salmonella Enteritidis pathogen is different from the E. coli bacteria that has been blamed for at least 47 deaths , and widespread recalls , in Europe .

The next day , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on its website there had been 21 reported cases of salmonella tied to the sprouts , which are also labeled as Evergreen Produce . Nine of those were in Washington state , seven in Montana , three in Idaho , one in North Dakota and one in New Jersey .

Three of those people have been hospitalized , and there have been no deaths , according to the CDC .

Those affected , ranging in age from 12 years old to 77 years old , fell ill between April 12 and June 7 . A vast majority , 77 % , of those who became sick were female , according to the CDC .

The recalled sprouts were delivered to four distributors and three retail stores in Idaho and Washington state , Evergreen said in its press release Friday . They include 4-ounce , 16-ounce and 5-pound bags of alfalfa sprouts , plus 4-ounce and 16-ounce bags of spicy sprouts . The expiration dates for all the affected products are between June 22 and July 14 .

Evergreen said that authorities determined that all those who fell ill with the salmonella had eaten its sprouts . But the Moyie Springs company said that tests on its products are still pending , and no products have come back positive yet .

According to its website , Evergreen has been family owned and operated since 1990 . Besides vegetables , it also distributes fruits , dairy items , pastas and a host of other food products .

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Evergreen Produce issues a voluntary recall of alfalfa and spicy sprouts

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The move comes days after warnings from federal health authorities

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According to the CDC , there are 21 cases in 5 states tied to the sprouts